Ancient statues discovered near Italy tourist hotspot Pompeii

A terracotta figurine of Eros riding a dolphin was found in a newly discovered sanctuary, which dates from the 5th century B.C. Photo / AP

Excavations in southern Italy have unearthed terracotta bull heads and a figurine of the Greek god Eros riding a dolphin, shining new light on the religious life and rituals of an ancient city, culture ministry officials said Saturday.

It’s the first trove of artefacts identified from a sanctuary in the ancient Greek city of Paestum, which dates from the 5th century B.C. Paestum, famed for its three massive Doric-columned temples, is near the archaeological site of Pompeii, but farther down the Amalfi coast.

The small temple was first identified in 2019 along the ancient city walls but excavations were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Italian Culture Ministry said in a statement.

Excavations yielded several small terracotta figurines in the first months of resuming work, the Mmnistry said. Archaeologists found seven bull heads around a temple altar as if placed there on the ground in a form of devotion.

A dolphin statuette appears to be from the Avili family of ceramists whose presence had never before been documented in Paestum, the statement said.

Limited excavations began at the temples in the 1950s, and the ministry believes more treasures can be found in the area.

Ancient Romans controlled the city by around 275 B.C., renaming it Paestum from the Greek “Poseidonia,” in what had before been Magna Graecia.

Other ancient statues have recently been uncovered in other parts of the world. A new Moai (’Easter Island’ statue) was found in a dry lake on the Chilean Island of Rapa Nui, with university researchers locating the 1.8 metres tall relic in the centre of the Rano Raraku volcanic crater. A tiny bronze Buddha statue was also found on a West Australian beach by a pair of documentary filmmakers and was estimated to be worth $180,000.